Daily Republican., 1887-09-09
a BRAVE oIRL,
Lstssr y Pissssurg DispsssA.

Io-uay, ~ the house OF o mutual
friend, l met Q ninetsenth century
herOlnc--a young girl who wears upon
her breast massive gold medal that
was presented TO har BY the State OF
Iowa, a. mark of its appreciation OF
her wonderful courage aud presence Of
mind. Tall, erect and we'll propor-
toned, with her dark, bright eyes,
rosy cheeks and clearly cut features,
forming charming picture Of strong,
American womanhOod, Kate Shelley.
OF Boone, H., Is Q girl that any father
OF any State might be proud Of She
10 to-day % years old, but she was
only 10 when, by An act Of daring
bravery, she won the admiration and
gratitude OF the people OF her native
6tate and made her name famous
among them.
About dark on July 8, 1881, a wind
and rain storm of unparalleled sever
ity burst over Kate Shellsy's home In
the couktry, near Honey Creek. Tho
Des Moines river rose six feet, and
every creek was over its banks In less
than an hour. The window Of this
brave girls room commanded view
Of the Honey Brook Railroad bridge.
Peefing out into the darkness, she
saw, By the aid Of the vivid flashes Of
lightning which at frequent intervals
Illuminated the scene, that houses,
barns, fences, lumber and everything
portable within reach of the food had
been carried away, while the wind
swept by with fearful and ever-in.
creasing velocity. and the waters con-
,inued quickly and steadily TO rise.
Through the blackness and storm
she saw locomotive headlight I'D
vancing swiftly in the direction OF the
bridge which the food had washed
away. A second later and the light
suddenly dropped down out of sight,
and, though the roaring of the wind
and water made 1t impossible for her
TO hear the frightful crash 1t must
have made, she knew that q train ol
cars had plunged into the abyss.
There was no enc ct home beside her
self rave her mother and her little
brothers and sisters, and she kne Y
that If help was to be given TO the sui.
ferers and warning conveyed 10 the
engineer of the express train ther
NEARLY due she must undertake the
lawful task alone. Throwing an old
water proof about her shoulders, and
hastily lighting . lantern, she ven.
tured forth into the storm. The food
was far above all roads and pathways
TO the waters edge, and she sson real
lized that IL wsuld be impossible te
reach the wreck. She must try soms
other plan. A steep, rocky bluff led
up to the track. She began to ascend
lis. With her clothes torn to rags, snd
her flesh lacerated by the thick growth
of bushes she at last reached the rails
There was still small portion of tht
bridge left. On her hands and kneei
she crawled out on the remaining tiel
TO the last one, and holding ON with
one hand for her life, she leaned over
the water as tar as she could, and
waving her lantern, cried at the top oil
her voice.
From the black gulf below there
came In answer the faint voice Of the
engineer, who told her 1t was freight
train that had gone over and that,
Though badly injured, he had saved
himself from drowning by crawling
| under some broken timbers. He be.
lieved that all the other train hands
had perished, and advised her TO pro-
ceed at once to the nearest station,
warn the approaching express train oil
Its danger, and return with help for
him.
Retracing her steps, the young hero
inc was soon Fastening along the track
with all the speed she could make
against the bowling tempest toward
Moingona, a small station about ont
mile from Honey Creek. To reach
that point she had 70 cross the high
trestle bridge over the Des Moinss
Iriver, q distance Of 500 feet. Hel
Trembling foot had scarcely taken it,
first step upon the structure when q
Sudden and appalling burst of thunder,
lightning, wind and rain nearly threw
Iher over into the water, and at the
Isame time extinguished her light.
Matches would have been powerlesi
Ito rellght it in o hurricane, even If she
had them, and she was now unable t
see even hands length from her, ex
|cept when q vivid fash OF lightning
revealed the raging waters beneath
her or the dark outlines Of the sway
ling bridge to which she clung.
| Throwing away her lantern, thil
Idauntless American girl again dropped
lon her hands and knees and thus made
her way through the darkness ant
Istorm from tie to tie over the perilouI
Itrestle. Reaching firm ground again
she soon covered the short remaining
distance to the station. breathlessly
told her story and then fell in deat
faint at the station agents feet.
Succor was hastily dispatched to thu
suffering engineer In Honey Creek
Telegrams went flying up and dow
the line, notifying the railroad official
that the bridge was gone.
Just one minute after the brave gir
had tainted. and while she still lay un
conscious the express train came rash
ling in. When the passengers heard o
the awful accident from which the!
had been saved by the indemitabl
courage of one fragile girl, lovinl
hands took her up tenderly, chafe'
the torn and bleeding limbs, laved tn
Ipallid face and soon called her back !
J life again. Then they collected for he
}. substantial purse.
ii When the fame of brave Kate She
ley's exploit spread throughout her ma
!, ,Itive state men and women of all class
es united to do her honor. Sewers
subscriptions were started for he
benefit, and if money is ever an ade
Iquste reoompense for such heroisn
she has been we'll rewarded for he